News 29 Oct 2013

Off-Road Observations: 43

MotoOnline's weekly enduro and desert feature, presented by Yamaha's WR450F.

Stadium-based enduro racing (aka Endurocross) has been a major hit in recent years, essentially bringing fans up close to all the obstacles off-road guns take on over the course of an event.

Not too dissimilar to supercross compared to the more traditional outdoor motocross, it’s action-plus, magnified in a bid to really entertain those who take time out to watch.

On the circuits – held either indoors or out – you’ll find rocks, boulders, logs, sand, mud, water holes and special obstacles like giant tyres and wooden sections.

Endurocross has been popular since its initial introduction over 10 years ago, now accumulating in major one-off events, series and championships pretty much globally.

EnduroCross in the US is coming down to the closing rounds for 2013.

EnduroCross in the US is coming down to the closing rounds for 2013.

In Australia we have seen the Melbourne-based KTM Enduro-X event take centre stage since its inception, now scheduled to expand to a three-round national series in 2014.

Organisers of those events simply explain Enduro-X as follows… “Combine motocross, enduro and trials, add a dash of supercross thrills and spills and some of Australia’s best riders and what do you get? ENDURO-X!”

To give you a real deal look exactly what it is, check out this epic film below pieced together from this year’s event by Motology’s Adam Riemann.

The Enduro-X organisers have secured dates at Brisbane Speedway (2 February), Sydney Speedway (15 February) and Calder Park Raceway in Melbourne (2 February) for the trio of rounds in 2014.

With many of the major series currently winding down, this time of the year really sees the Endurocross concept take centre stage.

In the US their GEICO AMA EnduroCross series is now five rounds in from the scheduled seven, getting off to a gradual start since May, but over the months of October and November is when the series really gains traction.

In Europe, the seven-round FIM SuperEnduro (formerly Indoor Enduro) World Championship will commence on 17 November in the UK, spanning through February. Important to note, World Enduro promoter ABC Communication became the SuperEnduro promoter for the 2012/2013 season.

Commercially these events are ultra promising, and from a competitor’s standpoint, they’re popular in their own right. Domestically, I have a feeling we’re really going to see the events boom over the next few years.

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